Homework Help:
Calculating the Unit Vectors

3. The attempt at a solution
My attempt was based on the idea that both triangles formed by the vector components (x component, y component, and the hypotenuse which is the magnitude of the vector itself) would be similar.

I took the length of each of the sides, -3.20 for x and 2.10 for y and individually solved for the unit vector by setting up this relationship:
(length of component)/(length of hypotenuse)=(length unit component)/1

The system rejected both of my answers. For x i got -0.836 and for y i got 0.549.

3. The attempt at a solution
My attempt was based on the idea that both triangles formed by the vector components (x component, y component, and the hypotenuse which is the magnitude of the vector itself) would be similar.

I took the length of each of the sides, -3.20 for x and 2.10 for y and individually solved for the unit vector by setting up this relationship:
(length of component)/(length of hypotenuse)=(length unit component)/1

The system rejected both of my answers. For x i got -0.836 and for y i got 0.549.

Your answer looks fine to me. I calculated the same value for the two components. I like that similar triangle method to find unit vectors. In vector classes, you usually just think about it this way(which involves the exact same math): you have a vector A with magnitude A at angle C. You want the same direction(the same angle C) at a magnitude of 1, so you divide by A(the hypotenuse). So yeah, it's the same calculation: each component divided by the hypotenuse.

What are you calculating here? Are not the components given in the problem?
The x component is -3.20 and the y component is +2.10, according to the problem. Am I missing something here?

it turns out that there isn't any calculation necessary, and your answer is correct. i thought the question was asking for a unit vector with the same angle as the given vector.
A Unit vector is a vector with a magnitude of 1, thats where all of my calculations came from - which apparently were unnecessary.